ABOUT US

About Whitehorse

Our Location

The City of Whitehorse is located just 15 kilometres east of Melbourne and covers an area of 64 square kilometres. The municipality is bounded by the City of Manningham to the north, the Cities of Maroondah and Knox to the east, the City of Monash to the south and the City of Boroondara to the west. Whitehorse’s suburbs include Blackburn, Blackburn North, Blackburn South, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Box Hill South, Burwood, Burwood East, Forest Hill, Mitcham, Mont Albert, Mont Albert North, Nunawading, Surrey Hills, Vermont and Vermont South.

Community Demographics – Census Data

Unless otherwise stated, this information comes from the 2011 census and is based on place of usual residence.

The City of Whitehorse has an Estimated Residential Population of 157,740 (in 2011). This represents an increase of 7,208 people (or 4.8 per cent) since 2006. The municipality is home to 57,207 households; a figure which grew by 3.6 per cent across the same period.

Whitehorse, like much of Victoria and Australia, has a growing population of older people. This is a bit more pronounced here than elsewhere; around 17 per cent of our residents are aged 65+ as compared with 13 per cent, which is the Melbourne metropolitan average. By 2020 this age group will comprise nearly one quarter (24 per cent) of our municipality (based on Whitehorse Population Forecasting:http://forecast2.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=123&pg=5000).

We are also a culturally diverse community. In the 2011 census one third of residents were born overseas and one quarter came from a non-English speaking background. The top five countries of birth are: China, the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. Our large Chinese population is a real feature of the municipality, with 7.3per cent of residents born there. This is a 90per cent increase on the 2006 level. In Box Hill, this figure is 22 per cent. The number of residents born in Asia is increasing in Whitehorse. This not only reflects broader immigration trends, but is also in part due to our growing international student population. International students attend Box Hill Institute of TAFE, Deakin University and some local high schools.

Reflecting this, Mandarin and Cantonese are the most commonly spoken languages other than English at home. This is followed by Greek, Italian and Vietnamese.

In 2011, over half of Whitehorse residents (55 per cent) identified as Christian and more than one quarter (27 per cent) stated that they had no religion. 10 per cent of residents reported a non-Christian faith, with Buddhism having the largest following (5 per cent), followed by Hinduism (2 per cent).

In the 2011 census, 321 people or approximately 0.2 per cent identified themselves as Indigenous and living in Whitehorse. This is less than the average for Victoria (0.7 per cent) and Australia (2.5 per cent). Though a small population in relative terms, this group has a long history on this land, even in a contemporary sense. Whitehorse was home to a number of boys homes that housed members of the stolen generation who were removed from their families.

The most commonly occurring household type in Whitehorse is couples with children (33per cent). Approximately one quarter of households are comprised of couples and lone persons respectively. Whitehorse has a larger proportion of lone person households relative to Melbourne. Household size in Australia has declined since the 1970’s but between 2006 and 2011, it remained stable for the nation as a whole. More information about the City of Whitehorse’s population will be made available when it is released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (due November 2012).

For more detailed information, phone Council's Community Development Department on 9262 6333 or view the City of Whitehorse's Community Profile, Atlas and Population Forecast. Note: the Community Atlas and Population Forecast are based on 2006 data and will be updated during November and December 2012. The Community Profile is based on data from the 2011 census. Unless otherwise stated, the information above comes from the 2011 census and is based on place of usual residence.

City of Whitehorse Economy

A snapshot of the City of Whitehorse economy reveals:

A $7.2 billion economy that is strategically integrated within the wider regional economy (refer to Value Added table)

Approximately 61,000 jobs supported by a large proportion of the resident workforce

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Business Register (ABSBR) lists trading businesses with active Australian Business Numbers (ABN) in Whitehorse at 14,554 (2011)*. It is estimated that there are around 9,000 businesses based in Whitehorse related to a premise/location.

The Whitehorse Economic Development Strategy has been prepared to provide continued certainty around the role Council provides in supporting and directing business activity to ensure a strong economic future for our City.

The development, implementation and evaluation of an Economic Development Strategy provides the framework to guide leadership and to establish, monitor and achieve strategic objectives.

Click here to view and download a copy of the Whitehorse Economic Development Strategy 2008-2013.

Box Hill – Think inside the Box

Fast Facts Box Hill is the most significant activity centre in the eastern region of Melbourne.

Box Hill has been designated a ‘Central Activities Area’, which is an alternative to the Melbourne CBD and planned for substantial growth in employment, housing, business, services and public investment.

Box Hill Central Activities Area is home to around 4,000 residents with a high level of cultural diversity and large proportion born overseas.

There are more than 1,250 dwellings ranging from traditional detached housing in leafy residential streets, to modest apartments and purpose-built student housing. 70% of households are sole or two-person households.

Box Hill Central Activities Area is home to approximately 16,000 jobs representing a wide range of industrial sectors.

Box Hill Central Activities Area includes approximately 146,000 square metres of office space with the public sector being the largest user.

Box Hill Institute supports more than 40,000 students

Box Hill Hospital treats approximately 48,000 patients each year from the region and employs approximately 4,500 staff.